Rivermen postseason roster cleared up

Friday

Mar 12, 2010 at 12:01 AMMar 12, 2010 at 11:01 AM

The Peoria Rivermen stood pat as AHL Clear Day rosters were announced on Thursday.

If the Rivermen are to gain any help in the race for a playoff spot, it will have to be from the addition of college or junior players in the St. Louis Blues system, or free agents from the amateur ranks.

One such addition could be highly-touted defenseman Ian Cole, whose season at Notre Dame ended Sunday with a CCHA playoff loss to Ohio State.

Dave Eminian

The Peoria Rivermen stood pat as AHL Clear Day rosters were announced on Thursday.

If the Rivermen are to gain any help in the race for a playoff spot, it will have to be from the addition of college or junior players in the St. Louis Blues system, or free agents from the amateur ranks.

One such addition could be highly-touted defenseman Ian Cole, whose season at Notre Dame ended Sunday with a CCHA playoff loss to Ohio State.

Cole was the Blues’ No. 1 pick (18th overall) in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft, and he returned from a concussion this season to play well. He’s likely weighing the departure to the pro ranks of other Notre Dame teammates, plus the risk of another concussion in college, while deciding whether to turn pro this week.

That would mean an AHL tryout contract and spot with Peoria, as a bridge to an NHL contract with the Blues that would start next season.

“The Blues are talking to him,” Blues assistant general manager, director of pro scouting and Rivermen GM Kevin McDonald said. “He’s really the only possible guy (from among the Blues college and junior prospects). He hasn’t said no, and he hasn’t said yes.

“The other guys, we will continue to monitor them, sure. We want them to come to Peoria and get that experience, but if we don’t make the playoffs, there won’t be a very big window for them to get here.”

Junior and college players can’t join pro teams until their amateur club’s season is over. They are at a premium in the AHL, because they don’t count against the final 20-skater, two-goaltender Clear Day roster.

But the Blues 2008 No. 1 pick, Alex Pietrangelo, is on an OHL Barrie team that is 54-9-2 and headed for a deep playoff run.

Third-round right wing Ian Schultz is on a Calgary team that is No. 1 in the WHL. European center Jori Lehtera is tearing up the Finnish Elite League and likely headed to Finland’s World Championship team.

Second-rounder Phil McRae and third-rounder James Livingston are with Plymouth of the OHL, which has a No. 4 playoff seed.

“There are a couple college and junior free agents we’re looking at,” McDonald said. “Overall, we might make as many as three offers.”

Former Rivermen and Blues defenseman Steve Wagner was brought in through that free agency route in the spring of 2007.

The Clear Day roster means only the 22 players listed on it are eligible to play in the AHL for the rest of 2009-10. Exceptions are made to replace players missing from NHL call-up, injury or suspension.